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RAOC Gazette - page 292

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Corps RAOC
Material type Journals
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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1980
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Early date 1980
Late date 1980
Transcription rumour has it he is being billed for a typewriter, he burned
the engine out on his. In Ops is Corporal Bob Leat who was
recently presented with the 1980 winge award. His opo (pun
intended) is Lance Corporal Nig Evenden, by the time this is
published he will have successfully completed his RPC2 (such
confidence). Next is Corporal Bob Bland our fishing expert,
he is at the moment handing over to Lance Corporal Jock
Leitch. Jock is a re-enlistment, we wish him the best of luck
in the Corps (again!). Our other JNCO is Lance Corporal
Bill Musson who can be heard saying—tongue in cheek—" I'm
between jobs at the moment" Our latest addition is Private Taff
Jenkins, now running the disc desk, he was' overheard to say
" I didn't join to work with a load of nutters bach." Before I
get the Chief Clerk of G Branch banging on my door (or my
head) I promise next month will be their turn.
Congratulations to Corporal Bob Leat on being selected
for promotion to Sergeant, Corporal Bob Bland who was selected
for substantive Corporal and Lance Corporal Nig Evenden who
is leaving here as A/Corporal.
A hearty welcome to Lance Corporal Jock Leitch and
Private Taff Jenkins.
ORDNANCE
COMPANY
IMMEDIATELY we returned from Crusader, preparations
began for the tenth anniversary of the Units Patenschaft with
34 Panzer Battalion in Scheuen. (See page 210.) The festivities
are to continue when we send a team to a Military Skills Con-
test later this month.
The winter sports programme is now in full swing and
we have high hopes for cross-country, football and rugby teams.
Staff Sergeant Frank Mines has at last achieved his ambition of
a Unit basketball team: good luck lads! The rugby team have
started the season in the best fashion by winning the CCRAOC
cup final. (See page 217.) In a high-spirited and hard fought
match they managed to defeat 3rd Armoured Division Ordnance
Company: but credit is due to both teams for an exhilerating
contest.
Comings and goings have been too many to list here. Wel-
come to all our new arrivals. Of all the departures, no one
will be missed more than W02 Brian Hymers; cook, swimmer
and rugby player extraordinaire. Congratulations to the follow-
ing on their promotion: Sergeant Bruce, Corporal Wilkinson,
Lance Corporals Calvert, Brown, Tilley, Marshall, Ahmed,
Hoareau and Bryant.
2 n d A r m o u r e d Division
SADLY, we must shortly say farewell to
Lieutenant Colonel Jackson, our CRAOC,
who moves on to greater tasks and
greener pastures.
The effects of the moratorium are
keeping everyone busy. The pressure be-
came so great a week ago that our S02
Materiel threw himself out of a Scout
Helicopter at four thousand feet. Faster
and faster he hurtled earthwards; can't he
hack it? Wait, what's that, a parachute? Major Jim Steele landed
safely and bang on target, to the delight and hearty applause
of the children of St Peter's School, for whom he had arranged
the demonstration. Many thanks to Staff Sergeant Rule and
Sergeant Frew who took part that day.
Sports news concerns itself mainly with Sergeant Mick
Haverty and Corporal Brummie Thynne whose efforts con-
centrate on playing for Lubbecke Layabouts R F C Haverty is
dedicated and keeps the agression flowing by practising loose
mauls wherever and whenever the opportunity presents itself.
A round of applause for Private Ian Bottomley who has entered
for the 2 ADSR novices boxing championships.
Corporal Charlie Welbourn has left us after nearly five
years. Best wishes for his forthcoming tour of Hong Kong.
Lance Corporal Bunn is off to the South of France on his honey-
moon, a dangerous choice of venue to start a marriage. Fare-
well to WOl Mick Sibley who leaves soon to become Staff
Assistant Dortmund Garrison, and welcome to W02 Percival
who replaces him in AQ.
OD
ORDNANCE
COMPANY
2ND ARMOURED DIVISION 'Hell on Wheels' Ordnance
Company took part in Spearpoint. It was good to see that our
departing AO Captain Roger Walls could fit at least one exercise
in before he left us for Donnington. The airborne AO has been
replaced by a ' bootneck,' Captain David Clark, who looked
after Colditz while we were away fighting the Orange forces.
After a hard exercise of digging and moving Corporal Jon Bull
^''SjSikxv.v-^
Having completed ' probation ' Lance Corporal Schofield is
presented with his new beret by CRAOC, Lieutenant Colonel
Jackson, during Spearpoint.
is looking for someone to straighten his bent pickaxe (he's so
strong you know). The highlight of the exercise was when we
successfully beat off an attack intended for Logistic Headquarters.
Six enemy Chinooks full of American infantry were very surprised
by our tremendous firepower and took to the woods, only to
have their harbour party killed off with an accurately placed
grenade from Private Graham Spillings, out on a sneaky-beaky
patrol from 'A' Platoon. Sergeant Marv Walden did tremendous
trade with his mobile sauna, even if most of his regular customers
were from Logistic Headquarters (alas the rumours about the
American girls were not true!) The exercise concluded wilh a
free weekend of camping plus barbeque and open air movie.
The meal laid on by Sergeant Bob Turton and his merry crew-
was excellent, and our German hosts were of great assistance with
the fire and music.
The Danish Army Unit with which we carried out ex-
change training in May came to visit us. Thirty five soldiers
(including four girls) visited Infantry and Engineer Units in the
Garrison and also took part in shooting and sports competitions.
The visit ended with a night navigation exercise, with the Com-
pany laying ambushes along the route. Ambushing patrols of
women in the middle of the night on a misty training area turned
out to be the highlight of the exercise! Many social events were
held, Staff Sergeant Fred Crouch distinguishing himself by
doing a ' yam sing' on a bottle of Danish Schnapps—he now has
even less hair! We all hope to see our Danish friends again
next year.
Congratulations this month go to Private ' 109 ' Brown on
his marriage, and Lance Corporals Sutcliffe and McCaffrey on
having more babies. Well done Corporal K. P. ' Stan ' Brown
for passing HGV3, and welcome to Sergeant Bob Cox, Corporal
Chalky White, Lance Corporal Butcher and Privates Cunning-
ham, Thompson, Hibbert and Moseley. Farewells to the CQMS's
sanity. Corporal Jock Hood and Lance Corporals Hunt and
Speed.
5 Field Force
ORDNANCE
COMPANY
THE Unit has returned
to relative sanity after
Crusader with only the
moratorium, two visits,
a PRE and an Inspec-
tion to contend with
before the Christmas
break. Plans are now being drawn up to carry out exercises on
foot—carrying as many palletisted scaled items as possible! That
was the general opinion certainly when the Unit returned from
its latest BFT. It is rumoured that Corporal Danny Cullen and
Lance Corporal Geordie Joyce are now being issued with
calendars instead of stop watches in the interests of economy.
The arrival of Private Jock McCluskie who has taken over
the role of Unit sadist has coincided with the opening of the
new P and RT centre (gymnasium, for the uninitiated!). Private
Reid was the first to fall victim to the wall bars and joined
Private Geordie Strong who has fallen downstairs . . . again! A
picture of this happy couple can be seen overleaf.
! •
— 235 —
Book number R0404